This paper, a co-operative effort between molecular biologists from several institutions including the University of Calgary, details ongoing efforts to determine whether surface lipoprotein VIsE is adhesin-X, an unknown molecular component that likely works with spirochetal adhesin BBK32 and multifunctional surface protein OspC to assist Lyme bacteria in successfully disseminating throughout the body early in the infectious process by slowing it down upon infiltration of the fast-flowing blood steam and helping it to adhere to blood vessel walls, something that is critical for the bacteria to be able to drill through those walls and escape into surrounding tissues, leading to systemic illness. The short answer is very likely yes. For the very long, complicated answer, click below to read the full article.